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1 1 (March 14, 2022)

handle is hein.crs/govehlr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service informing the Iegislative debate sin co 1914 Updated March 14, 2022 Guyana: An Overview Located on the northern coast of South America between Suriname and Venezuela, English-speaking Guyana has characteristics similar to other Caribbean nations because of their common British colonial heritage (Guyana became independent in 1966). The country participates in Caribbean regional organizations, and its capital, Georgetown, serves as headquarters for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional integration organization. Once one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere, Guyana's development prospects have shifted significantly since the discovery of large offshore oil deposits in 2015. Source: Congressional Research Service. Political and E conomic Environment Guyana has a hybrid republican/parliamentary form of government, with a 65-member unicameral National Assembly. The presidential candidate of the party or coalition receiving the most votes becomes president, and the president appoints the prime minister and Cabinet. Current President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won March 2020 elections, defeating incumbent President David Granger, who led a coalition consisting of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC). In the National Assembly, Ali's PPP/C took a majority of 33 seats, the APNU/AFC coalition won 31 seats, and a smaller party won the remaining seat. Marred by allegations of fraud, final elections results were delayed until August 2020 after a recount by a CARICOM team and multiple legal challenges by supporters of the previous Granger government. After his inauguration, President Ali appointed retired military leader Mark Phillips as prime minister and former President Bharrat Jagdeo (1999-2011) as vice president. Some observers contend that Jagdeo, who was constitutionally prohibited from seeking a third term, plays a key role in policy decisions. Guyana's next national elections are not due until 2025, but local elections are expected to be held in late 2022 and could serve as a referendum on the ruling PPP/C's performance. Guyana at a Glance Population: 789,000 (2021 est., IMF) Ethnic Groups: Indo-Guyanese, or those of East Indian heritage, almost 40%; Afro-Guyanese, almost 30%; mixed, 20%; Amerindian, almost I I% (2012 est., CIA) Area: 83,000 square miles, about the size of Idaho GDP: $7.4 billion (2021 est. current prices, IMF) Real GDP Growth: 5.4% (2019); 43.5% (2020); 20.4% (2021 est.); 48.7% (2022 est.) (constant prices, IMF) Per Capita GDP: $9,369 (2021 est., current prices, IMF) Sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Economic Outlook Database, October 2021; and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), World Factbook. Political affiliations in Guyana often fall along ethnic lines. The ruling PPP/C, which traditionally has been supported by Indo-Guyanese, governed Guyana from 1992 to 2015. The largest party in the opposition APNU coalition is the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR), which dominated the political system from independence until 1992 and draws support from an Afro-Guyanese base. The other main opposition party, AFC, identifies as a multiracial party. In the aftermath of the 2020 election crisis, some experts expressed concern about an increase in ethnic tension and called for the adoption of a more ethnically inclusive approach toward governing. COVID-19 in Guyana Since the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began, Guyana has reported over 1,200 deaths from the virus, with a mortality rate of 156 per 100,000 people as of March 11, 2022, according to Johns Hopkins University. The country also reported a vaccination rate of 42%, with vaccine hesitancy cited as a significant challenge. President Ali has set the goal of having 70% of the country's population fully vaccinated by the end of June 2022. Guyana has benefited from vaccine donations through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility, a

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